TIRANA, August 20/ATA/ Chairman of the Committee on Health and Social Welfare in the Democratic Party Bardh Spahia claimed today in a statement to the media that the Council of Ministers’ creation of the Integrated Health Services Operator fails to reform or improve healthcare. Instead, he argued it locks in corrupt contracts, centralizes power and blocks competition, transparency and regular reviews.
Spahia warned that Albania’s unique new healthcare model lacks EU equivalents and threatens the country’s integration process. He criticized the lack of public consultation and accused the government of creating a new operator to protect corrupt concession contracts, block competition and preserve political clientelism.
Spahia criticized four healthcare concession contracts since 2015. He said they cost Albanians 45.5 billion lekë (over 500 million euros) with little improvement to real care. He called the deals opaque and unlawful and promised the opposition will fight corruption and demand public accountability.
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